Peter D. Kramer

new evidence on causes and results of depression and importance of fighting it

NOTE: This book is written from the perspective of a clinical practitioner. It contains observations and theories about depression as an illness, its development, and its impact in society today. It is not written from a therapeutic lens and the language used is not client-centered. It may not be helpful for those in the middle of a depressive episode, however it can be interesting for those who enjoy the study of neuroscience and human behaviour in relation to depression.

An elegant assassination. Kramer dismantles the myth of Freud without malice or exaggeration - only calm, verifiable information. Going in, I had imagined Freud as a pioneer who had fallen out of favor, due for a pendulum swing. Kramer's (convincing) thesis is that Freud generalized and exaggerated known theories of the mind until they were false, claiming they were original. Worthy of the Eminent Lives Series.

Written by an American psychiatrist, this is a history of the development of antidepressant medications, how they were tested, and how media attention around the author's earlier book "Listening to Prozac" had unintended consequences.
The book draws attention to the subtle, and not so subtle, ways that clinical trials of psychiatric medication can be manipulated from design through to publication of results.
Reviewed by Amy Rogers.